Device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a spinning ring

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR PLUMBING AND CENTERING A ROTATABLE SPINDLE WITHIN A SPINNING RING CAPABLE OF TRANSVERSING MOVEMENT ALONG THE SPINDLE TO FACILITATE MOUNTING OF THE SPINDLE ON A SPINDLE RAIL OF A SPINNING FRAME WITH THE SPINNING RING CONCENTRICALLY ENCIRCLING THE SPINDLE, INCLUDING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BODY OF UNIFORM CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO BE CO-AXIALLY MOUNTED UPON THE SPINDLE, AND AN ALIGNMENT BUSHING HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME CROSS SECTION AS THE CROSS SECTION OF THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE TUBULAR BODY AND HAVING SAID TUBULAR BODY MATINGLY RECEIVED THEREIN, SAID BUSHING BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED FOR TRAVERSING MOVEMENT WITH THE SPINNING RING WITH THE APERTURE THEREIN DISPOSED CONCENTRICALLY WITH THE SPINNING RING.

B. M. MURPH Jan. 19, 1971 DEVICE FOR PLUMBING AND GENTERING A ROTATABLE SPINDLE WITHIN A SPINNING RING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1969 full v I mvmon': BENN1E M.ML1R PH WM ATTORNEYE Jan. 19,1971 B. M. MURPH DEVICE FOR PLUMBING AN 3,555,804 D CENTERING A ROTATABLE SPINDLE WITHIN A SPINNING RING I Filed April 25, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTORI BENNHE M. MUIEPH ATTORNEYS United States Patent Gee US. Cl. 57-132 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a spinning ring capable of traversing movement along the spindle to facilitaate mounting of the spindle on a spindle rail of a spinning frame with the spinning ring concentrically encircling the spindle, including an elongated tubular body of uniform cross section throughout a major portion of the length thereof and adapted to be co-axially mounted upon the spindle, and an alignment bushing having an aperture therein of substantially the same cross section as the cross section of the major portion of the tubular body and having said tubular body matingly received therein, said bushing being adapted to be mounted for traversing movement with the spinning ring with the aperture therein disposed concentrically with the spinning ring.

This invention relates to a device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a spinning ring of a spinning machine to facilitate mounting of the spindle on a spindle rail of a spinning frame with the spinning ring concentrically encircling the spindle, the spinning ring being capable of traversing movement along the spindle.

During the operation of a spinning machine it is required that the spindle be plumbed and centered relative to the spinning ring in order to insure uniform spinning of the yarn and winding thereof according to a predetermined pattern. To this end, the mounting means for the spindle on the spindle rail accommodates limited universal movement and tilting of the spindle relative to the spinning ring before final securement of the spindle on the spindle rail.

Heretofore, it has been the custom to attempt to plumb and center the spindle with the spinning ring by visual observation of the spindle with the spinning ring positioned at various intermediate locations along the length of the spindle while rotating the spindle. This adjustment of the spindle was continued, largely by trial and error, until it visually appeared that the spindle was rotating concentrically within the spinning ring all along its length. It is apparent that this manner of plumbing and centering was very time consuming and highly inaccurate.

With the aforementioned in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle in an accurate manner within a very short period of time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle throughout the major portion of the length thereof in a single operation without relying on visual observation to determine when the spindle is plumbed and centered.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a spinning ring and to facilitate holding of the spindle in the plumbed and centered condition during its securement to the spindle rail.

3 ,555,804 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a spinning machine in partial section and with portions broken away and illustrating the device of the present invention 1n use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the device of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters are used throughout to indicate like parts where possible, there is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 a portion of a spinning frame 10 with the device of the present invention in use for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a corresponding spinning ring. As illustrated, the spinning frame 10 includes a spindle rail 11 having rotatable spindles 12 carried thereby, and a ring rail 13 having spinning rings 14 mounted thereon and encircling corresponding ones of the spindles 12, the ring rail 13 being capable of traversing the spinning rings 14 along the spindles 12. A roll beam 15 is also illustrated for reasons to be presently described.

For purposes of description only and not for purposes of limitation, the device of this invention has been illustrated and will be described for use in connection with a particular type spindle 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Spindle 12 includes a first portion 20 of generally cylindrical shape, which may or may not be tapered, adapted to receive a bobbin thereon, and a second portion 21 at the lower end of first portion 20 and of generally cylindrical shape, but of larger diameter than first portion 20. Spindle 12 also includes a whorl 22 disposed below second spindle portion 21 and a mounting arrangement for mounting the spindle 12 on spindle rail 11. This mounting arrangement includes a stationary center shaft 23 (FIG. 4) extending centrally of first and second portions 20, 21, and whorl 22 and on which these are mounted for rotation by bearings 24 (FIG. 4), only one of which is shown.

Center shaft 23 extends downwardly below whorl 22 and is mounted on the spindle rail 11 in a manner so as to permit limited universal lateral and tilting adjustment of the spindle 12 relative to the spindle rail 11. As best illustrated in FIGS. 35, this mounting arrangement includes a first sleeve 25 having a tubular vertical portion 25a extending through an opening 26 in spindle rail 11. Sleeve portion 25a is of less external diameter than the diameter of opening 26, and sleeve 25 includes a collar portion 25b at its upper end and a nut member 25c threadably mounted on the vertical portion 25a at its lower end. Washers 27 are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the spindle rail '11 between the collar 25b and nut 25c and the spindle rail 11. Sleeve 25 may be moved laterally and longitudinally of spindle rail 11 to a limited extent to assist in centering spindle 12 within ring 14.

A second sleeve 30 has a tubular vertical portion 30a extending through sleeve 25 and of lesser external diameter than the internal diameter of sleeve 25 so as to permit some limited adjustment therebetween. Sleeve 30 has a collar portion 30b, preferably having a hexagonal outer periphery, formed integral therewith at its upper end and a nut member 300 threadably mounted on the lower end of the vertical portion 30a. A suitable washer 31 is disposed between the nut member 300 and the nut member 25c. The lower medial surface of collar 30b is substantially planar and rests on the upper medial surface of collar b. The upper medial surface of collar b has a conical concavity therein which cooperates with a frustro-conical lower surface on a collar 32, also preferably having a hexagonal outer periphery, press fitted or otherwise mounted on the center shaft 23 immediately below whorl 22.

Shaft 23 extends through sleeve 30 and is of lesser diameter than the internal diameter of sleeve 30. Therefore these cooperating conical surfaces provide for limited tilting adjustment between the center shaft 23 and the sleeve 30. A nut 33 is threadably mounted on the lower end of center shaft 23 and a washer 34 is disposed between the lower end of the sleeve 30 and the nut 33 for aiding in securing the shaft 23 in position thereon. The nut 33 and washer 34 similarly have cooperating conical surfaces which permit limited tilting movement of the center shaft 23 relative to the sleeve 30 and the washer 34.

It should be understood that any suitable mounting arrangement for a spindle which permits limited lateral adjustment and limited tilting adjustment thereof relative to the spindle rail to position the spindle in a plumbed and centered position within the spinning ring mounted for traversing movement therealong is contemplated to be usable with the device of the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention for plumbing and centering spindle 12 within spinning ring 14 comprises an elogated tubular body having a first portion 41 of substantially uniform cross section substantially throughout its length and extending longitudinally for a major portion of the length of body 40. First portion 41 is preferably of cylindrical cross section and is formed integral at its lower end with a second portion 42 of body 40 which is also preferably of cylindrical form but of larger diameter than portion 41.

The opening extending through body 40 is of a diameter suitable to receive the spindle 12 within body 40 and for body 40 to matingly engage the spindle at spaced apart points along the length of the spindle. This arrangement insures that the spindle 12 and body 40 will move as a unit during plumbing and centering of the spindle 12. As illustrated, the opening through body 40 has a first portion adjacent the upper end of body 40 which is substantially the same diameter as the upper end portion of spindle 12 such that the upper end portion of spindle 12 is matingly received in the upper end portion of body 40. The diameter of the opening through body 40 adjacent the juncture point of first portion 41 and second portion 42 of body 40 is substantially the same as the diameter of the upper end of portion 21 of spindle 12 such that the upper end of portion 21 of spindle 12 is matingly received and engaged by the body 40 at that point. The opening within the remainder of the second portion 42 of body 40 is of slightly larger diameter than the whorl 22 such that the whorl is loosely received therein.

The lower end portion of body 40 has the internal surface thereof formed into a socket wrench configuration 43 adapted to matingly receive the hexagonal collars 30b and 32 and to hold these collars against rotation relative to the shaft 23 and the body 40. To assist in holding body 40 and hence collars 30b and 32 against rotation, the upper end of body 40 preferably has a notch 44 formed therein which is adapted to receive a suitable tool therein. Such a tool is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a generally L-shaped member 45 having a notch 46 in the end of one leg 47 adapted to receive the lower edge of roll beam 15. The other leg 48 is of a size and is adapted to fit into notch 44 intermediate its ends and has a handle 39 carried by its outer end.

The device of the present invention also includes an alignment bushing 50 which includes a first annular portion 51 having an external diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of spinning ring 14 such that the first annular portion 51 may be matingly received within spinning ring 14. Bushing 50 includes a second annular portion 52 of larger external diameter than first portion 51 such that second portion 52 extends radially outwardly beyond first portion 51 and is adapted to rest on top of spinning ring 14. Bushing 50 has an opening 53 through both of the portions '51 and 52 and concentric with annular portions 51 and 52 and with spinning ring 14 when bushing 50 is in position thereon. Opening 53 is of substantially the same cross-sectioal configuration and area as first portion 41 of body 40 such that the first portion 41 may be matingly received therein while still permitting longitudinal sliding movement of the bushing 50 along the body 40. Preferably, the bushing 50 is of suflicient thickness such that no relative tilting movement between the bushing 50 and the body 40 is permitted.

In operation, the ring rail 13 is preferably positioned in its lowermost position relative to a spindle 12 which is roughly or generally centered within the spinning ring 14 and loosely secured to the spindle rail 11 so as to permit limited lateral and tilting movement or adjustment of spindle 12 relative to spindle rail 11. Then body 40 is placed over the spindle 12 so as to matingly receive the spindle therein and engage the spindle at spaced apart points along its length and to matingly engage the heX- agonal collars 30b and 32. Adjustment bushing 50 is then placed over the first portion 41 of body 40 and moved downwardly therealong until it is matingly received on and within the spinning ring 14 so that opening 53 is positioned concentrically with spinning ring 14.

The tool 45 or any other suitable means is placed in notch 44 in body 40 to hold body 40 against rotation, and ring rail 13 is moved upwardly to move bushing 50 along body 40 substantially throughout the upward stroke of reciprocation of the ring rail 13 to center and plumb the body 40 within the spinning ring 14. Then spindle 12 is fixedly secured in a plumbed and centered position on spindle rail 11 by utilizing a suitable Wrench, such as a torque wrench 54, to tighten the nut or nuts of the mounting arrangement therefor.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What I claim is:

1. A device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a spinning ring to facilitate mounting of the spindle on a spindle rail of a spinning frame with the spinning ring concentrically encircling the spindle, the spinning ring being capable of traversing movement along the spindle, said plumbing and centering device comprising:

an elongated tubular body of substantially uniform cross-section throughout a major portion of its length and having a central opening therein extending longitudinally thereof from one end toward the other end and adapted to receive the spindle therein to coaxially mount the elongated tubular body upon said spindle, and

an alignment bushing having an aperture therein of substantially the same cross-section as the cross-section of the major portion of the elongated tubular body, said bushing being adapted to be mounted for traversing movement with the spinning ring along the spindle with said aperture disposed concentrically with the spinning ring, said elongated tubular body being matingly disposed through said aperture whereby the bushing may be traversed along the elongated tubular body to center the elongated tubular body and thereby the spindle relative to the spinning ring throughout the traversed portion of the spindle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said elongated tubular body includes a socket wrench portion carried by the end thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent the spindle rail, said socket wrench portion being adapted to fit over said spindle and to engage portions thereof which assist in securing the spindle on the spindle rail to facilitate such securement while the spindle is held in the plumbed and centered condition.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the other end of said elongated tubular body includes means to facilitate holding of said elongated tubular body against rotation during securement of the spindle.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the other end of said elongated tubular body has a transverse notch therein, and wherein said device includes a holding member adapted to be receive in said notch and to engage a stationary portion of the spinning frame to hold said elongated tubular body against rotation during securement of the spindle.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said elongated tubular body has the opening therein configured to matingly receive the spindle and engage the spindle at spaced points along its length.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment bushing includes a first annular portion adapted to be disposed concentrically within the spinning ring and having the aperture concentrically disposed therein, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion to mount the bushing for movement with the spinning ring.

7. A device for plumbing and centering a rotatable spindle within a spinning ring to facilitate mounting of the spindle on a spindle rail of a spinning frame with the spinning ring concentrically encircling the spindle, the spinning ring being capable of traversing movement along the spindle, said plumbing and centering device comprising:

an elongated tubular cylindrical body of substantially uniform external diameter throughout a major portion of its length and having a central opening therein extending longitudinally thereof from one end toward the other end and adapted to receive the spindle therein to co-axially mount said elongated tubular cylindrical body upon said spindle, and

an alignment bushing having an aperture therein of substantially the same diameter as the external diameter of the major portion of the elongated tubular cylindrical body, said bushing including a first annular portion concentrically disposed about said aperture and adapted to be disposed concentrically with said spinning ring, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion to mount said bushing for movement with the spinning ring, said elongated tubular cylindrical body being matingly disposed through said aperture whereby the bushing may be traversed along the elongated tubular cylindrical body to center the elongated tubular cylindrical body and thereby the spindle relative to the spinning ring throughout the traversed portion of the spindle.

8. In a spinning frame having a rotatable spindle shiftably mounted on a spindle rail and a spinning ring encircling the spindle and mounted for traversing movement along a major portion of the length of the spindle, the combination therewith of means interconnecting the spinning ring and spindle and responsive to traversing movement of the spinning ring in either direction along the spindle for shifting the spindle into concentric relation with the spinning ring at all points along the traversed portion of the spindle to facilitate securement of the spindle to the spindle rail in a plumbed and centered condition relative to the spinning ring.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means interconnecting the spinning ring and spindle comprises:

an elongated tubular body of substantially uniform cross-section throughout the major portion of its length and having a central opening therein extending longitudinally thereof from one end toward the other end and receiving the spindle therein to co-axially mount the elongated tubular body upon the spindle, and

an alignment bushing having an aperture therein of substantially the same cross-section as the cross-section of the major portion of the elongated tubular body, said bushing being mounted for traversing movement with the spinning ring along the spindle with said aperture disposed concentrically with the spinning ring, and said elongated tubular body being matingly disposed through said aperture.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said elongated tubular body includes a socket wrench portion carried by the end thereof positioned adjacent the spindle rail and fitting over said spindle and engaging portions thereof which secure the spindle on the spindle rail to facilitate securement while the spindle is held in the plumbed and centered condition.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said elongated tubular body has the opening therein matingly receiving the spindle and wherein said body engages the spindle at spaced points along its length.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said alignment bushing includes a first annular portion disposed concentrically within the spinning ring and having the aperture concentrically disposed therein, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion and mounting said bushing for movement with the spinning ring.

13. The combination of claim 9 wherein said elongated tubular body is an elongated tubular cylindrical body of substantially uniform external diameter throughout the major portion of its length and wherein the aperture in said alignment bushing is of substantially the same diameter as the external diameter of the major portion of the elongated tubular cylindrical body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,907 3/ 1921 Slater 57-32 2,848,798 8/1958 Davis 29-271 3,349,652 10/1967 Cromwell 81-53 3,406,512 10/1968 Stahlecker 57-132X 3,447,305 6/1969 Stahlecker et a1. 57-132 DONALD E. WATKINS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

